In the familiar story of The Wizard of Oz, we see a cast of characters on a journey. Dorothy is looking for home. Scarecrow is looking for brains. Lion is looking for courage. Tinman is looking for a heart. They set off on the yellow brick road, believing their journey will lead them to the Great Oz, the one who will grant their deepest desires. In the end, Oz is found out to be a hoax and the disappointment of the sojourners is evident. Their hopes are dashed in reaching what they believed was the purpose of their journey.
It seems easy to cast our vision on a preferred future as a destination of outward significance. That somehow once it is reached, the accomplishment will be fulfilling and our sense of quest complete. We'll have "reached" the purpose of our journey. Many people spend their whole lives pursuing their vision, but that sense of reaching the destination remains slightly out of reach.
Maybe we have a wrong perspective on what the journey is.
What the characters in The Wizard of Oz found out, was that the journey itself was the destination. Finding a home, brains, courage or a heart was found throughout the experiences of the journey. The experiences that seemed to only exacerbate their weaknesses & deficiencies was the very journey to realizing their dreams & desires.
What we most long for is found in the places we most want to escape.
Dorothy found home far away from a physical location.
Scarecrow found brains when facing situations he had to think.
Lion found courage by facing his fears.
Tinman found heart by being in situations that required caring.
What do you most desire today?
How are the experiences in your journey helping you realize that desire?
Yes, Dorothy was able to click her heels three times and be brought back home. I think what we'll find, is that as we find ourselves in the journey; things will click for us as well and we'll find ourselves in those places in rather simple ways.
Living our best life is not about reaching a particular destination or accomplishment. Living in sync is the simple rhythm of life that helps us find our best lives right where we are today.
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